Guy Scott: Reason for Anglo-American optimism in Zambia?
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| Guy Scott Zambian Vice President |
Zambia saw a 93% rise in investments; my eyebrows went up. The explanation that we are given is the ‘peaceful transition to power’ theory. Correct if I am wrong but when was there no peace in Zambia? The very last conflict I can recall was the war of liberation from colonial rule.
“It is tempting to see him as a symbol of a continent no longer trapped in its past, but is it true?” BBC asks. Really ?? BBC why would a radio station with such influence even ask such a question?Just because Zambia elected a white Vice President we are no longer trapped in the past? This is the same small mindedness that states that because Obama is President of America, we are now in post-racial America.
Perhaps the only silver lining is that Intra-African investment by South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria has grown in the last four years. Good news Africa owned by Africans.
“Zambians nostalgic for standards we saw in colonialism” Guy Scott
We always want to believe in a post-racial Zambia but when Scott made the comment that Zambians are nostalgic for the efficiencies that colonialism brought such as medicine in hospitals and books in schools. As an African my eyebrows went up because it presents an untrue picture of the horrors of colonialism. We want three or four generations from now to view colonialism through the eyes of those who survived its dreadfulness. Black Zambians had no access to state hospitals during colonial times. That’s what the point of colonialism right was; the whites had access to the best resources financed by the Zambian copper mines while black languished in poor conditions.
Taxation & reversal of privatization
Royalty tax is important to protect local industries. If outside investors do not want to come to Zambia, Zambia does not need them because Zambia should be owned by Zambians, if Europe doesn’t want to invest in Zambia there is always other Africans. Chinese mining companies are being accused of inhumane treatment of Zambians. Why are Zambians silent on this issue?
Reversal of privatization of Zamtel a telecommunications company was seen as a deterrent to foreign investors. Who exactly are these investors because statistics are saying otherwise? Perhaps these are ideologues who are bent on privtization whether it makes sense or not for the Zambian people. Zamtel was headquartered in the tax evasion capital of the world Cayman Islands and was clearly not benefiting the Zambian people neither did it have Zambian interests as its core values. It is certainly a fallacy to believe that all privatization is positive and that all nationalism is the solution to Zambia’s problems. In this case the government’s decision was justified after all why should some investors or foreigners enjoy most of the wealth of Zambia?
* Analysis based on Interview on BBC’s HARDtalk’s Stephen Sacku with Guy Scott Vice President of Zambia*
6 Comments
by Anonymous
Muzungu will never understand what it is to be a slave in your own country. Scott knows better than to say such stupid things as “Zambians are nostalgic for colonialism”.
Ben Mandara
by Anonymous
Scott gives ammunition to the Mugabes with their Malemas, why Scott did you do this? Have you heard the old African proverb if you have nothing to say shut up!
Moyo
by Sam
Nationalism is not the way either. Privatization is the best way forward. Whether foreign or domestic. If local governments do not agree with foreign investors then offer the firms to locals through subsidies. History shows that all successful economies have a larger private sector than public sector due to inherent inefficiencies found in the public sector.
by Anonymous
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
by Anonymous
Uhh news flash GBH. Zambia became a British colony in 1923 and stopped being one in 1964. That’s 41 years. Zambia has now been an independent country for 48 years! How much longer do you think you chaps can keep blaming the “muzungu’s” for the decay and neglect that hangs over your beautiful, wealthy country like a bad smell. It seems that his “excellency” Micheal Sata, with his transparent “nationalisation” and “mining royalties” plans, is simply joining the long list of greedy, unscrupulous little thugs who been ruining the country since the colonial bosses left town.
by Global Black History
Thank you for your contributions, we at Global Black History strive to review specifics and shy away from generalities. This article was not mean to be an assessment on Sata’s overall economic performance. We are not here to defend or denigrate Sata we just agree with his decision in regard to Zamtel. We do not support nationalization of private business but we support social responsibility by foreign investors which empowers ordinary Zambians and spurs economic growth creating a win-win experience for foreign investors and Zambians.
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